JAX Trip Assembly Point - Very Important!
July 29, 2008
Friday assembly for our Jacksonville trip will at 3:00PM at the Holy Spirit Church in Lantana. Please spread the word to everyone, particularly the forms you have to download below.
Reminders:
+ Bring all remaining costumes you have to the assembly :
GIRLS:
- sleeveless leotards
- flower archs
- artificial eyelashes
BOYS:
- black long-sleeved shirts
ALL:
- safety pins
Click the appropriate form below to download and print. Fill up this form yourself, or have a parent do it for you, then bring it with you to the assembly point. For those of you over 18, please bring your insurance cards:
Liability Disclaimer for those over 18
Liability Disclaimer for those Under 18
If you have something you feel needs clarification, don’t hesitate to call your Tita Rose, Tita Bella, Tita Jocelyn, or Tita Marivic. If they can’t be reached, have a parent call your Tito Sam or Tita Nancy - they will know how to reach the aforementioned people for answers.
Please be guided accordingly.
Beyond Pat Answers
March 8, 2008
by Renee Altson
The youth pastor patted me on top of the head—not with tenderness, but with a dismissive, condescending motion. Tap-tap-tap. Tap-tap-tap. “Just remember,” he said, “God causes all things to work together for good. God won’t give you anything that you can’t handle.”
I wiped away the tears that had started to form and forced a smile. Walking away, I thought, “Dude, you have no idea what I’m going through. I don’t even know if there is a God anymore.”
We live in a world of instant gratification. We can have almost anything we want on demand. Fast food, fast Bible lessons, fast relationships—everything comes with a money-back, feel-good, 30-minutes-or-less guarantee.
Today’s Christianity has bought into that kind of mentality,as well. Got a broken heart? Jesus can fix it. Feel overwhelmed by sadness? Cast all your cares on him. Feeling stuck between two decisions? Just trust and obey.
What are we offering our students when we give them pat answers and tired clichés? Are we teaching them that we buy into the notion of instant pleasure and quick fixes? Are we setting them up for a life of disappointment and doubt?
The pat answers given to me throughout my lifetime, particularly during my adolescent years, almost did me in. They brought guilt and shame—a sense of never being good enough, of never being godly enough. I struggled constantly with these quick fixes that just didn’t work for me. I’d confess, repent, and accept Jesus into my heart—I really would. And nothing would feel any different. So I’d do it again, repeatedly confessing and repenting in an attempt to feel the answers that were supposed to be there. I’d pray for hours, asking Jesus into my heart again and again. Why didn’t he fix me? Why didn’t God give me strength? What was I doing wrong?
In the end, swamped with frustration and sadness, I didn’t blame God or suddenly decide it was Jesus’ fault. I blamed myself.
One of the problems with pat answers is that they’re usually taken straight from Scripture and therefore contain some element of truth—enough truth to distort; enough truth that, when offered, seems real.
We don’t offer lies to our students, we offer half-truths. We offer the resurrection without the agony of the cross. We offer the ascension without the garden of Gethsemane. And we end up with students with half-truth lives—students who won’t know how to survive the difficulties they face; students with weak faith that is easily uprooted by winds of disappointment and doubt.
What can you do to help ground your students? How do you get beyond pat answers? Do you even want to?
Face Pain
You must befriend the reality of hurting people; you must acknowledge some wounds that are so big they may make you ask, “Why, God?” and even “God, are you there?”
One of the problems with Christians is that we feel we must constantly defend our faith so zealously, we don’t know how to let God handle the huge issues. We try to minimize our situations and lives so we don’t need a big God. Big pain requires a big God.
Embrace Unknowing
A million years of theology doesn’t speak to the heart like a genuine “I don’t know.” And let’s be truthful—there are some things we don’t know.
We can guess. We can come up with alliterative phrases that describe the atonement, the purpose of sin, the meaning of redemption; but when it comes to this student in this moment in this situation, we all too often just don’t know. Pretending that we do leads to pat answers and dishonesty.
Allow for Process
There’s a lot of pressure in the church to be okay. It’s subliminal, from upraised hands during the worship chorus to kneeled moments during the altar call, but it exists.
Many people will expect you to fix the hurting kids in your ministry. After all, you’re the youth pastor. But it’s important not to rush the process. We don’t serve a God who expects us to be put together; we serve a God who suffers with us in our sufferings, who weeps with us in our sorrow.
Listen
Sometimes the best words are no words at all. A lot is unsaid in those quiet, intimate moments. Much is conveyed in quiet breathing and simple sharing of space. And in that silence, you won’t damage someone’s heart. You won’t minimize his pain or tell him what you think he needs to hear or what you want to say.
Just be with her. Be with her without feeling a need to fix her. Listen to the cries of her heart. Offer them up to God.
Pat answers are dangerous. They minimize our God and they minimize us. They turn our religion into something that God never intended. And they diminish our light in the world.
Renee Altson is a pat answers survivor, a former youth worker, the Web editor for YouthWorker Journal, the Web content specialist at Youth Specialties, and the author of Stumbling towards Faith: My Longing to Heal from the Evil that God Allowed (emergentYS/Zondervan).
reprinted by permission of youthspecialties.com
The Right Kind of Kids
February 20, 2008
TO: Youth Director
FROM: Administrative Board
Re: The right kind of kids
I’m sure you’ll agree that attracting the right kind of kid to the program will then attract the right kind of parent. Remember we’re all about families here. The more familial-giving-units we can bring on board, the quicker we can move into the new family life center.
It’s recently come to our attention that your youth program may not be attracting the right sort of kids to our church. Mildred Fleener, who has been at this church since 1809, graciously volunteered to create a sub-committee on youth activities and came up with the following list of suggestions on which kinds of kids may NOT be entirely appropriate for our church.
* Kids who wear too much black. (This includes hair dye and lipstick.)
* Kids who smoke. (Smell them when they come in.)
* Kids who drink. (Pay attention to kids who pop a lot of Tic-Tacs. See Also: Smoking)
* Kids who have their own cars. (Kids who drive themselves to church make parents uncomfortable.)
* Kids who have more than one piercing. (One in each ear is plenty. Girls only!)
* Kids who use the word “suck.”
* Kids who slouch during church.
* Kids who pass notes during church.
* Kids who don’t know all the words to Our God Is an Awesome God.
* Kids from broken homes.
* Kids who have…uh…more than one mommy.
* Kids who have jobs or sports activities that interfere with youth activities.
* Kids who give “that look.”
* Kids who aren’t familiar with even the most elementary Bible stories.
* Kids who come to youth meetings but not to real church.
* Kids who come to church but don’t sing.
* Kids who come to church but sing too loud.
* Kids who ask too many questions.
* Kids who don’t participate in the youth fundraisers.
* That one kid who keeps taking six of the good cookies from the “fellowship time” table and then going to the youth room to eat them.
* That girl with the eye makeup and the perfume.
* That boy with the eye makeup and the perfume.
* “That” kid from “that” family.
* Kids who wear T-shirts that feature bands that sing lyrics that make adults uncomfortable.
* Kids who wear T-shirts depicting Jesus the Son of God as a “homeboy.”
* Kids who wear T-shirts that bare the midriff (See also: Piercing)
* Kids who wear shorts with words on their backsides that may cause others to actually look there.
(NOTE: Shelly Smith frequently wears shorts and midriff-bearing shirts that say “Our God Is an Awesome God.” This clothing is still unacceptable despite her attempts to call it evangelism.)
As we have new visitors every Sunday, it’s important that they see a happy, close-knit group of well-adjusted, happy teenagers who enjoy church and enjoy sitting with their families.
Please keep these guidelines in mind when visiting the high schools or welcoming friends of current youth group members.
Yours in Christ,
The Administrative Board
Sub-Committee on Youth Activities
To: Youth Director
From: Jesus
Re: The right kind of kids
Over here. I’ll take ‘em.
Yours In Me, Jesus
Authored by Steve Case.
STEVE CASE has been active in youth ministry for 18 years, currently at Windermere Union United Church of Christ near Orlando, Fla. He’s also a popular speaker and the author of several books, including Everything Counts, The Book of Uncommon Prayer, and The Youth Worker’s Big Book of Case Studies . (YS)
© 2005 Youth Specialties
Electronically reprinted in fosni.org, with permission from YouthSpecialties.com
Dance Rehearsals
February 17, 2008
SUNDAY, February 24, 2008, from 1:00-5:00 PM. at Emmanuel’s Columbus Hall. With Tita Batchie.
The Kaamulan Staff have been fielding calls and invitations for dance gigs, and so it’s time to, once again, establish a rehearsal and casting program. As of now, we have accepted one invitation, and this is for an evening piece at Players Club in Wellington on April 19th. As usual, please continue to monitor this “bulletin board” for updates. Thank you!
P.S. Of course, you are always welcome to call me on my cell phone at need. See you!
Important: March 1, 2008 Update
February 10, 2008
We have been reminded that we are in the middle of the Lenten season. So, please update everyone else concerning the March 1st affair at the Columbus Hall, in Emmanuel Church.
There will be a get-together on this same day, but this will be an affair solely sponsored by Fr. Tim, Fr. Zamora, and the Church staff; this time, for the Kaamulan dancers, and your parents. We will confirm all these with Fr. Zamora, and will so inform you, as far as the exact time is concerned.
If it pleases you, the FOSNI staff would like to postpone the kind of party we’d like to give you after the Lenten season. Or shortly, after this school-year is over and summer vacation begins.
On another note, we also have a scheduled promo number on the evening of April 19th, at the Players Club in Wellington. In the near-future, we will be issuing downloadable call-slips for you to fill up and submit back to us, regarding events and future schedules. As usual, we ask that you periodically check online for updates.
Thank you so much for your patience.
Tita Rose
February 9th Announcement!
February 4, 2008
Regarding the February 9th (Saturday) evaluation session with Tita Batchie; please pass the word on to everybody, as a reminder and as an FYI, that it’s set from 9:00 AM to 12 Noon, at the Holy Spirit Social Hall. Take note, we will be watching videos.
On another note, it has been kindly brought to our attention that there’s still better ways to improve our site navigation, and we thank Ma’am Jocelyn for that. In a lot of ways, we rely on other people to see how we might improve, again and again; and be sure, we welcome input like that
Short of doing a total redesign, we have tweaked the “link headers” you see on the black strip immediately under the faithwalk logo. From now on, when you want to check the site for “Youth Matters” updates, you can directly navigate towards the YouthWalk section, where to choose “Youth Bulletin” is to be directed to the latest announcements. For every new page that opens, other than “HOME,” there will be links, usually on the right side, leading to “Recent Posts”, where the appropriate titles will be found. The “Site Map” on the header is yet another way towards where you might want to go. For other questions and feedback, we request that you use the “Comments” section on the appropriate posts where we can conduct a dialogue regarding any particular announcement, or article, posted. Please do not be shy about typing in any type of comment. As long as it does not offend both our sensibilities, then whatever you wish to say and write will ever be acceptable. And, as always, criticisms (which we intend to use to constantly improve the site) are welcome.
Thank you.
Thanksgiving Party!
January 30, 2008
Hey Kaamulan kids and parents! Please check your calendars and see if you and your families are free on March 1st, Saturday, at 7:00 PM onwards. We plan to have a Thanksgiving Party for ALL who made Kaamulan possible and real. This is a FOSNI and Fr. Sockol/Emmanuel Staff collaboration.
This means we need to have a consensus. Whether you and yours are free that day, or not, we are asking everyone to leave a note here. We would prefer to have everybody with us. Use the comment section on this post to say “Yes” or “No”, and leave a name we can identify as you, yourself, and yours. You have three days to respond, so we can definitely make arrangements for particulars. We will announce the final details of the event once we get all your feedback.
So, hurry and “register“! 
Oisst! Pass the word to everyone.
Announcement - All Kaamulan Dancers
January 27, 2008
Please pass this on to all concerned:
There will be a post-show evaluation on February 9, 2008, Saturday, 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. with your Tita Batzie, venue to be announced later. The ultimate purpose of this evaluation is to improve the efficiency of our performance. This does not mean that you were bad — you were magnificent. It simply means we can be better, that we must always strive to be better, and a continuing growth is always to be sought after. Know too, that this growing goes both ways; dancer and choreographer, student and teacher. That while your Tita Batzie, your Tita Rose, and your parents can teach, they can also learn from you. We will announce the venue when we can, so please continue to check here every now and then.
On the same note, if you happen to have other commitments on the same date, please make sure to let us know well beforehand. Please bear in mind that this evaluation is mainly for the dancers, although parents who wish to listen in, or participate, are always welcome.
Thank you and God bless..!
Kaleidoscope Representatives
January 24, 2008
Our Kaamulan Youth dancers, primarily composed of Couples for Christ - Youth, have been chosen to represent the Philippines in Palm Beach County’s premier educational event, Kaleidoscope 2008 on January 27, 2008, Sunday.
You guys are scheduled to dance at the World Beat Stage at Centennial Square (the other stage is on Flagler Drive) at exactly 11:45-12:00. You will be dancing The Singkilan.
Instructions for the Boys:
* You will need to be wearing black longsleeves and black scrubs already.
* Bring your hankies; one for head, and another that you hold while dancing.
Instructions for the Girls:
* You will need to be wearing long-sleeved leotards and tights.
* Bring your “kumbong” (for your head)
* You will need to be wearing your make-up already.
Instructions for all:
* We will meet, or assemble, behind the Philippine Booth display at 10:00 A.M. on Sunday.
* For those who will need a ride, you will have to let us know (use the comment section below to write your need, or if you will need directions going there).
* Bring your own safety pins.
From there, you will get further instructions.
We need to be all on one page with this, so stay tuned to this thread for updates.
A note about parking on Sunday. As you know, you can park anywhere, for free, in downtown Clematis on Sundays. If you end up parking by a meter, drop your quarters in, anyway. All money collected at the parking meters this Sunday will go to a worthy cause - the upliftment of our youth.
Below are downloadable pdfs containing the Entertainment Schedule for Sunday and the Parking Meter rationale.
Kaleidoscope Entertainment Sked
Use the comment section below to air your feedbacks or questions.
Kaamulan
January 23, 2008
This is a test event. This is where you write the schedule and other information. Scroll down the Write Post and you will see the Events Editor. Click the plus (+) sign and set the time span/length of the event and then it’s done.
More here:
An event post is a normal blog post, with one or more attached events. On the Write Post page, scroll down and you will see the Event Editor. You might need to click the little ‘+‘ in its blue bar, to see the controls.
To start with, you will only see the column headings (Start, End and All Day) and the ‘+’ - add event button. Click ‘+’ to add a new event.
The event will start and end on the next full hour. To set the start date, click on the ‘…’ button, next to the start time. A popup calendar will appear.
Select the new start date by clicking on the calendar. Optionally you can change the time by clicking on the popup’s time and dragging. Click on the ‘X’ to dismiss the popup.
You can also edit the date and time in the normal way, by clicking on the numbers and changing them with the keyboard. If you edit the date manually like this, make sure that you keep to the correct format: YEAR-MONTH-DATE 24-HOURS:MINUTES
When you change the Start field, the End field updates automatically, so that the event’s duration remains the same. If you want to change the duration, then edit the End field, just as you did for the Start.
If you tick the All Day checkbox, then the times are ignored - the event goes on through the whole day. You can make the event span over more than one day if you wish. You can also add more scheduled times for the same post. Just click the ‘+’ button to add more lines.
To remove an event, click on the ‘—’ button.
When you’ve finished editing your events, just Save the post in the normal way.